KISSING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

kissing

verb

present participle of kiss

as in cuddling

to touch one another with the lips as a sign of love it's traditional for couples to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmastime

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in brushing

to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing a gentle breeze kissing the water's surface

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of kissing And yet, the ball still fell a few inches short, kissing the front of the United Center rim. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026 The friends made headlines several times over the years for so openly showing affection to each other, frequently kissing on the lips at red carpet events. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026 At Netanyahu's party headquarters, filled mainly with media, the few supporters present chanted Netanyahu's name, draping themselves in flags with his face on them and kissing posters. — Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026 Knox argues that the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe accuses Sarabia — a Connecticut native who graduated from Bethel High School in 2021 — of grabbing Doe’s face and kissing her, court filings said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026 The apples of the cheeks should be touched with the a similar shade of bronze that may be kissing the eyelids, and layered under a fresh peach or tangerine, Schoen said. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 The trailer begins as Ziegler’s Mae frantically asks family friend Benny, played by a sleepy Rob Lowe, for help after her big mistake — kissing the wrong brother between Graham Phillips’ Andrew and Elias Kacavas’ Theo. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Shortly after, Lara said her friend was kissing the man near a wall before the pair disappeared. — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 And at Mugler, the mood was set before the first look appeared, with screens beaming erotic footage that included mating snails, sweaty skin, a woman’s tongue and two people kissing. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kissing

Verb

There’s also a large firepit for cuddling up under the stars with a cocktail or two.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Kye and the girl start to meet once or twice a week in the girl’s apartment, watching TV and cuddling and getting takeout.

— S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of cuddling

Verb

Carefully dig up the mother plant or remove it from the container, brushing soil from clumps of roots or rhizomes.

— Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2026
In the trailer, the camera pans over to Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s characters in their bathroom, brushing their teeth in tandem.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of brushing

Verb

In July, Powell also shared a sweet photo of himself and Randolph smooching in a Fourth of July photo dump.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
The vinyl edition comes with some special gatefold artwork that appears to show Winter smooching Carnegie Hall’s namesake and builder, Andrew Carnegie.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of smooching

Verb

Start the next piping at the base touching the first zigzag, and repeat the process until the sides are completed.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Amenities and experiences The hotel is very much integrated into the neighborhood, with its three restaurants on street level and open to the public, and the High Line running just through—though never touching—the building.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of touching

Verb

The women wore maroon unitards with subtle puffed sleeves, while Danchig-Waring’s tank unitard featured two faces in profile, each hugging a side of his waist.

— Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
The camera then panned to the Arrowhead Stadium suite where Swift, 36, was watching her husband, 37, and she could be seen hugging Este Haim during the exciting moment.

— Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hugging

Verb

Every wiggle and wobble, every snuffle and squeak of six newborn puppies snuggling together in Finland is captured by cameras monitoring their development in the first weeks of their lives.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
But these kittens can't stop snuggling after being separated.

— Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026